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world. He reviewed the history of LEAD, from its inception with the help of the Housing and Community Services Agency (HACSA) in 1996 to the present. He said LEAD had served over 200 teens during that time. He related that LEAD teens worked toward “life assignments” and explained that such assignments were long-term goals in which the teen would work to create a positive personal community or world change. He listed some life assignments, ranging from graduating from high school to becoming a marine biologist. He said his life assignment was to learn all he could about computers and the “life assignment” of the group was to create Nuestro Lugar/Our Place, a LEAD teen center in the city of Eugene. He reported that LEAD representatives met with City staff and it had been determined that the former fire station in City Hall would not work. Now they understood there were other City-owned properties that could work. He asked that the council take a verbal stance to do whatever it could to make Nuestro Lugar happen. He assured the council that supporting the center would help the council fulfill its priority regarding youth. th Marie Kale , 767 West 8 Alley, stated that she participated in LEAD for four years. She said LEAD teens would love to have the council’s support for the Nuestro Lugar. She invited the councilors to a free lunch on May 24 during which a video would be shown and speakers from LEAD would make presenta- tions. She felt the council would be able to see first-hand why LEAD was an “amazing program.” She provided invitations to the councilors. She reiterated that LEAD had just been presented with an award honoring it as the Outstanding Human Services Agency of the Year. She added that this means “we’re awesome.” Maj Rafferty , 532 Olive Street, said LEAD had been spearheading the drive to create a teen facility in downtown Eugene. She stressed that LEAD had a strong track record for working with diverse groups of young people. She stated that she had been partnering with the City on the project since 1998 when she worked for the Riverhouse Outdoor Program. She listed the other partners: Juventud FACETA, Youth Advisory Board, University of Oregon Family Human Services program, and Trauma Healing Project. She noted that the University’s program was one of the best in the country and utilized best practices, evidence-based research, and interventions. She reported that Dr. Dan Close, department head for the program, committed to provide interns for the teen center. University of Oregon Family and Human Services program counseling psychology professor, Benedict McWhirter, an expert researcher on the subject of at-risk youth and prevention, was interested in the center and wanted to contribute to the program. She said a graduate student was conducting a needs assessment to help LEAD better understand what the community needed. She added that LEAD also partnered with Juventud FACETA and the Youth Advisory Board to provide services in a culturally inclusive manner. She related that Linda Wagner, who started a successful teen facility in Arizona and now worked in research and development for the Department of Youth Services, had written LEAD an outstanding letter of support noting that LEAD’s development process matched up with successful practices in Arizona. She acknowledged that some people felt the teen center concept had been tried without success and likened this to saying “I tried a sandwich once and did not like it.” She reiterated that the LEAD facility would be a membership facility, where parents would be required to sign their children up and teens would have to commit to obeying the law and staying in school and graduating. She reminded the council that LEAD had a strong grant possibility with Meyer Memorial Trust for $15,000 but needed a space commitment. She related that a space in the Overpark structure had been suggested and she believed it would work. She asked the council to commit to being a champion for the project. Thomas Dodd , 372 Lodenquai Lane, pastor of United Lutheran Church, spoke in support of the council’s consideration of ordinances to regulate the payday loan industry. He called the special legislative session in Salem promising, but the implementation date of July 1 left room for the industry to lobby to reverse the MINUTES—Eugene City Council May 8, 2006 Page 3 Regular Meeting